The Hong Kong Jockey Club is little known outside Hong Kong, yet through its philanthropic arm, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, its annual philanthropic expenditure puts it among the world’s top ten institutional donors.

Leong Cheung served as the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust from 2014-2022

Leong Cheung has just stepped down after eight years as the head of the Charities Trust to take a sabbatical in Oxford. Alliance spoke to him about how this singular institution works, about the significant change it has undergone during his tenure, about the often neglected traditions of Asian philanthropy and about the next steps.

AM: Has the Jockey Club always had a social mission?